Management Of Secondary Prevention Research Articles

Risk and Secondary Prevention of Stroke Recurrence: A Population-Base Cohort Study.

With recent advances in secondary prevention management, stroke recurrence rates may have changed substantially. We aim to estimate risks and trends of stroke recurrence over the past 2 decades in a population-based cohort of patients with stroke. Patients with a first-ever stroke between 1995 and 2018 in South London, United Kingdom (n=6052) were collected and analyzed. Rates of recurrent stroke with 95% CIs were stratified by 5-year period of index stroke and etiologic TOAST (Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment) subtype. Cumulative incidences were estimated and multivariate Cox models applied to examine associations of recurrence and recurrence-free survival. The rate of stroke recurrence at 5 years reduced from 18% (95% CI, 15%-21%) in those who had their stroke in 1995 to 1999 to 12% (10%-15%) in 2000 to 2005, and no improvement since. Recurrence-free survival has improved (35%, 1995-1999; 67%, 2010-2015). Risk of recurrence or death is lowest for small-vessel occlusion strokes and other ischemic causes (36% and 27% at 5 years, respectively). For cardioembolic and hemorrhagic index strokes around half of first recurrences are of the same type (54% and 51%, respectively). Over the whole study period a 54% increased risk of recurrence was observed among those who had atrial fibrillation before the index stroke (hazard ratio, 1.54 [1.09-2.17]). The rate of recurrence reduced until mid-2000s but has not changed over the last decade. The majority of cardioembolic or hemorrhagic strokes that have a recurrence are stroke of the same type indicating that the implementation of effective preventive strategies is still suboptimal in these stroke subtypes.

Optimising Psychoeducation for Transient Ischaemic Attack and Minor Stroke Management (OPTIMISM): Protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial

Background: A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and minor stroke are medical emergencies and often a warning sign of future strokes if remain untreated. Few studies have investigated the long-term psychosocial effects of TIA and minor stroke. Secondary prevention and medical management are often the primary focus with limited access offered for further psychosocial support. Psychoeducational interventions can provide education and advice to people with physical health conditions and, with suitable tailoring, could be appropriate for people after TIA and minor stroke. This study aims to develop a group psychoeducational intervention for people after TIA and minor stroke and to test whether it is acceptable and feasible. Methods: This mixed-methodology study involves two phases: Phase 1) A qualitative study to determine the content of a suitable intervention; Phase 2) A single-centre feasibility randomised controlled trial to evaluate the acceptability of this intervention. The overall study has ethical approval. Stroke survivors have been involved in designing and monitoring the trial. The aim is to recruit 30-40 participants from a Stroke/TIA Service, within 6 months following their diagnosis. Participants will be randomly allocated to either the usual care control group or the intervention group (psychoeducational programme). The programme will consist of six group sessions based on providing education, psychological and social support. The primary outcomes will relate to the feasibility aims of the study. Outcomes will be collected at 3 and 6 months to assess mood, quality of life, knowledge and satisfaction, and resource use. Discussion: There is a need to develop and evaluate effective interventions that enhance the education provided to people after TIA and minor stroke and to promote their psychosocial wellbeing. Findings will indicate the acceptability of the intervention and parameters needed to conduct a definitive trial. Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT02550392; registered on 15 September 2015; status: completed.

The important role of general practice in the care of cancer survivors.

The number of people living with and beyond cancer is increasing substantially. Primary care has an important role in the ongoing management of cancer survivors. The aim of this article is to outline common concerns of cancer survivors, evidence to support the role of general practitioners (GP) in survivorship care and key aspects of primary care-led survivorship care. Clinical trials have shown that, in particular circumstances and with well‑designed models, GP-led care is as effective as oncology specialist-led care. Regardless of the model of care, general practice has key roles in care coordination, management of multimorbidity, secondary prevention andhealth promotion, management of psychosocial care andpromotion of self-management. Communication and collaboration between GPs and specialist cancer services is critical to support patients and healthcare providers in the delivery of care.

Medical Management for Secondary Stroke Prevention.

This article reviews the evidence base and recommendations for medical management for secondary stroke prevention. Recent developments for secondary stroke prevention include evidence to support the use of short-term dual antiplatelet therapy after minor stroke and transient ischemic attack, direct oral anticoagulants for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, reversal agents for direct oral anticoagulant-associated hemorrhage, and aspirin rather than presumptive anticoagulation with a direct oral anticoagulant for embolic stroke of undetermined source. Most strokes are preventable. The mainstays of medical management for secondary stroke prevention include antihypertensive therapy; antithrombotic therapy, with antiplatelet agents for most stroke subtypes or anticoagulants such as warfarin or a direct oral anticoagulant for cardioembolic stroke specifically; cholesterol-lowering therapy, principally with statins, but with potential roles for ezetimibe or proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors in selected patients; and glycemic control to prevent microvascular complications from diabetes mellitus or pioglitazone in selected patients with insulin resistance but not diabetes mellitus.

CASE OF NEUROFIBROMATOSIS TYPE I WITH ASTROCYTOMA OF THE BRAIN IN THE PRACTICE OF PEDIATRICIAN

The relevance of the topic is due to insufficient awareness of doctors about neurofibromatosis, which leads to a delay in diagnosis and the development of complications. The diagnostic criteria characteristic of this disease, features of the clinical course, possible complications, methods of treatment, features of dispensary observation are described. A clinical case of neurofibromatosis type I with astrocytoma of the brain is described. The diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type I (NFI) was established in a patient aged 4 years 3 months. The peculiarity of the manifestations of this clinical case is the absence of family history; the combination of cutaneous manifestations, multiple lesions of the nervous system, complicated by chronic subdural hematoma, endocrine disorders and extra-cutaneous manifestations (eye symptoms, hearing and speech disorders); the absence of significant positive dynamics despite repeated surgical treatment and long-term polyochemo-therapy. Despite the stabilization of clinical manifestations of the disease, this patient has an unfavorable prognosis with possible progression of the pathological process. For early clinical detection of patients with NFI, using for this purpose diagnostic criteria recommended by the International Committee of experts on neurofibromatosis, continuity of management and adequate measures of primary and secondary prevention of complications of NFI is important knowledge of this pathology by primary health care physicians, including pediatricians, district and family doctors, neurologists, dermatologists, ophthalmologists and surgeons.

¿Qué debe saber el cardiólogo clínico sobre la lipoproteína (a)?

Elevated lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] is a non-traditional, independent vascular risk factor for cardiovascular disease and calcified aortic valve stenosis. It is one of the main inherited dyslipidemia in patients with early coronary heart disease.Its structure is similar to LDL cholesterol, with the main structural difference between them being that Lp(a) has a second protein called apolipoprotein (a).In this work, we analyze the prothrombotic and proatherogenic properties of Lp(a), which by different pathophysiological mechanisms have a direct influence on the development, progression and evolution of cardiovascular diseases.We review the main scientific evidence emerged from population and genetic studies on Lp(a) that demonstrate its role as a causal factor in the development of cardiovascular disease.Practical recommendations for the management of Lp(a) are considered, with special emphasis made on patient groups that benefit from its determination and on the reasons why the identification of high Lp(a) implies a change in the management of primary or secondary prevention of these patients.Finally, we address the available therapeutic measures and those currently under review. We highlight the concept of reducing global cardiovascular risk and the role of elevated Lp(a) in its reclassification, and in the intensification of preventive measures at each level of vascular risk.

Essen Risk Score in Prediction of Myocardial Infarction After Transient Ischemic Attack or Ischemic Stroke Without Prior Coronary Artery Disease.

Background and Purpose- More intensive secondary prevention with newer drugs may be cost-effective in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Whether some subgroups of patients who had a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or ischemic stroke, but no prior CAD are at similar high risk of myocardial infarction as those with prior CAD remains unclear. We determined whether the Essen score identified a subset of TIA/stroke patients without known prior CAD who, nevertheless, had a high risk of myocardial infarction on current secondary prevention management. Methods- In a population-based cohort (Oxford Vascular Study) of consecutive TIA or ischemic stroke patients recruited from 2002 to 2014, 10-year actuarial risks of myocardial infarction and of recurrent ischemic stroke were determined by face-to-face follow-up in patients with and without prior CAD using Kaplan-Meier analyses. Predictive value of the Essen score was assessed with C statistic. Results- Of 2555 patients with TIA/stroke (13 070 patient-years of follow-up), 10-year risk of myocardial infarction in those without prior CAD (n=2017, 78.9%) ranged from 0.9% (95% CI, 0-1.9) at Essen score ≤1 to 29.8% (95% CI, 7.7-46.6) in those with a score ≥5 (C statistic =0.64 [95% CI, 0.57-0.71]; P<0.001). The score tended to be less predictive (difference: P=0.0460) for the risk of recurrent ischemic stroke (C statistic =0.57 [95% CI, 0.54-0.60]). Compared with patients with prior CAD (n=538, 21.1%), an Essen risk score of ≥4 (n=294, 11.5%) in those without prior CAD identified a subgroup at similar high 10-year risks of myocardial infarction (17.2% [95% CI, 6.9-26.3] versus 16.9% [95% CI, 11.5-22.0]) and of recurrent stroke (40.4% [95% CI, 26.7-51.6] versus 32.4% [95% CI, 25.2-38.8]). Conclusions- The Essen score is a simple clinical score to risk-stratify patients with TIA/stroke without prior CAD and to identify subsets who may be at sufficiently high risk of myocardial infarction and recurrent stroke to justify more intensive treatment or inclusion in trials.

P6198Lipoprotein(a) as a potential residual risk associated with coronary lipid-rich atheroma in type2 diabetic subjects with coronary artery disease who achieved lowdense lipoprotein cholesterol&lt;1.7mmol/l

Abstract Background Type 2 diabetic patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is a high-risk subjects who require intensive secondary preventive management. The current guideline recommends lowering LDL-C with a statin as a first-line therapy in diabetic patients with CAD. However, its anti-atherosclerotic efficacy is diminished compared to non-diabetic subjects. These suggest the need to further identify additional therapeutic target associated with diabetic atherosclerosis. Lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)] is a plasma lipoprotein which consists of an LDL-like particle with apolipoprotein (a). While Lp (a) has been shown to associate with ASCVD, whether this lipoprotein promotes diabetic coronary atherosclerosis under LDL-C control with a statin remains to be fully elucidated. Purpose To investigate the relationship between Lp (a) and coronary lipidic atheroma by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), which quantitatively measures lipidic burden in vivo. Methods Culprit lesions in 127 type 2 diabetic patients with CAD who already received a statin were evaluated by NIRS imaging. Maximum 4-mm lipid core burden index at culprit lesion (MaxLCBI4mm) was measured. Results High-intensity statin and ezetimibe were used in 13 and 14% of study subjects, respectively. Their on-treatment LDL-C level and Lp (a) were 2.0±0.7 mmol/l and 22.1±26.7 mg/dl. Despite these lipid lowering therapy, average MaxLCBI4mm was 419.6±248.2 and MaxLCBI4mm≥400 was observed in 49% of study subjects. Multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated LDL-C and Lp (a) as independent determinants associated with MaxLCBI4mm (Table). Of note, in subjects who achieved LDL-C&lt;1.8 mmol/l, an elevated Lp (a) level but not LDL-C predicts MaxLCBI4mmat culprit lesions (Table). Multivariate linear regression analysis t p-value Entire subjects (n=127) LDL-C 2.04 0.04 Lp (a) 2.88 &lt;0.01 LDL-C &lt;1.8 mmol/l (n=47) LDL-C 0.45 0.66 Lp (a) 2.74 0.01 Conclusions The association of Lp (a) with coronary lipid-rich atheroma even under guideline-recommended LDL-C control indictaes Lp (a) as an additional therapeutic target to further stabilize diabetic atherosclerosis.

Dyslipidemia management for secondary prevention in cardiovascular disease: from guidelines to clinical practice

Despite improvements in the treatment and prevention of risk factors (i.e. dyslipidemia), cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in countries with a high degree of socio-economic development. As a matter of fact, in the last decades, several trials and meta-analysis highlighted the impact of treatments targeted to lowering cholesterol levels (particularly LDL-cholesterol) on outcomes of patients affected by CVD, both in terms of primary and secondary prevention. The main international CVD guidelines recommend lifestyle modifications and optimal lipid-lowering therapy in individuals with established CVD. The aim of the present document is to describe the dimension of the problem and the available therapies, offering a practical pharmacological flow-chart useful for accurate monitoring and intensive treatment of dyslipidemias in this patient population.

Secondary Prevention with Antithrombotic Therapies in Stable Ischemic Heart Disease Patients: a Review.

Stable and unstable ischemic heart disease are a growing component in all facets of healthcare, including ER visits, hospitalizations, and financial costs. With the changing emphasis of healthcare shifting towards the outpatient setting, the onus is on clinicians to appropriately manage such patients to avoid adverse effects and complications. Antithrombotic medications, including aspirin, P2Y12 inhibitors, and rivaroxaban, are currently prescribed or have potential roles in the management of secondary cardiovascular prevention in ischemic heart disease patients. While the majority of studies and findings involve aspirin and clopidogrel, newer oral anticoagulation drugs are arriving, prompting new research to assess their impact on preventing mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke in such patients. Aspirin has a well-established history of safety and efficacy in management of secondary cardiovascular protection in ischemic heart disease patients. A dual-antiplatelet regimen, most commonly including aspirin plus clopidogrel, has been documented to be effective as well in achieving the same goals. Newer agents, such as rivaroxaban, are being analyzed to see if there is scope to include these agents for secondary prevention. One recent study, the COMPASS trial, revealed the major concern of these newer medications: while better cardiovascular outcomes were achieved in subjects on aspirin plus rivaroxaban, this was accomplished in the setting of a higher rate of major bleeding events. In conclusion, the evidence thus far has not been significant enough for the American College of Cardiology to recommend the incorporation of oral anticoagulants in the management of stable ischemic heart disease patients, in contrast to aspirin and clopidogrel. As the antithrombotic and antiischemic properties of these newer agents seem evident, so does their potential for increase in risk of bleeding events. Doctors have to individually tailor antithrombotic medication decisions based on the patient's risk-benefit profile.

Socioeconomic status and risk of cardiovascular disease in 20 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiologic (PURE) study

Socioeconomic status is associated with differences in risk factors for cardiovascular disease incidence and outcomes, including mortality. However, it is unclear whether the associations between cardiovascular disease and common measures of socioeconomic status-wealth and education-differ among high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries, and, if so, why these differences exist. We explored the association between education and household wealth and cardiovascular disease and mortality to assess which marker is the stronger predictor of outcomes, and examined whether any differences in cardiovascular disease by socioeconomic status parallel differences in risk factor levels or differences in management. In this large-scale prospective cohort study, we recruited adults aged between 35 years and 70 years from 367 urban and 302 rural communities in 20 countries. We collected data on families and households in two questionnaires, and data on cardiovascular risk factors in a third questionnaire, which was supplemented with physical examination. We assessed socioeconomic status using education and a household wealth index. Education was categorised as no or primary school education only, secondary school education, or higher education, defined as completion of trade school, college, or university. Household wealth, calculated at the household level and with household data, was defined by an index on the basis of ownership of assets and housing characteristics. Primary outcomes were major cardiovascular disease (a composite of cardiovascular deaths, strokes, myocardial infarction, and heart failure), cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality. Information on specific events was obtained from participants or their family. Recruitment to the study began on Jan 12, 2001, with most participants enrolled between Jan 6, 2005, and Dec 4, 2014. 160 299 (87·9%) of 182 375 participants with baseline data had available follow-up event data and were eligible for inclusion. After exclusion of 6130 (3·8%) participants without complete baseline or follow-up data, 154 169 individuals remained for analysis, from five low-income, 11 middle-income, and four high-income countries. Participants were followed-up for a mean of 7·5 years. Major cardiovascular events were more common among those with low levels of education in all types of country studied, but much more so in low-income countries. After adjustment for wealth and other factors, the HR (low level of education vs high level of education) was 1·23 (95% CI 0·96-1·58) for high-income countries, 1·59 (1·42-1·78) in middle-income countries, and 2·23 (1·79-2·77) in low-income countries (pinteraction<0·0001). We observed similar results for all-cause mortality, with HRs of 1·50 (1·14-1·98) for high-income countries, 1·80 (1·58-2·06) in middle-income countries, and 2·76 (2·29-3·31) in low-income countries (pinteraction<0·0001). By contrast, we found no or weak associations between wealth and these two outcomes. Differences in outcomes between educational groups were not explained by differences in risk factors, which decreased as the level of education increased in high-income countries, but increased as the level of education increased in low-income countries (pinteraction<0·0001). Medical care (eg, management of hypertension, diabetes, and secondary prevention) seemed to play an important part in adverse cardiovascular disease outcomes because such care is likely to be poorer in people with the lowest levels of education compared to those with higher levels of education in low-income countries; however, we observed less marked differences in care based on level of education in middle-income countries and no or minor differences in high-income countries. Although people with a lower level of education in low-income and middle-income countries have higher incidence of and mortality from cardiovascular disease, they have better overall risk factor profiles. However, these individuals have markedly poorer health care. Policies to reduce health inequities globally must include strategies to overcome barriers to care, especially for those with lower levels of education. Full funding sources are listed at the end of the paper (see Acknowledgments).

Consecutive Slides on Axial View Is More Effective Than Transversal Diameter to Differentiate Mechanisms of Single Subcortical Infarctions in the Lenticulostriate Artery Territory.

Objective: Lipohyalinosis or atherosclerosis might be responsible for single subcortical infarctions (SSIs); however, ways of differentiating between the two clinically remain uncertain. We aimed to investigate whether consecutive slides on axial view or transversal diameter is more effective to differentiate mechanisms by comparing their relationships with white matter hyperintensities (WMHs).Methods: All the participants from the Standard Medical Management in Secondary Prevention of Ischemic stroke in China (SMART) cohort who had SSIs in the lenticulostriate artery territory were included and categorized according to consecutive slides on axial view (≥4 consecutive slices or not) and transversal diameter (≥15 mm or not). The associations between the severity of WMHs and the different categories were analyzed.Results: Among the 3,821 patients of the SMART study, 281 had diffusion-weighted image-proven SSIs in the lenticulostriate artery territory. When classified by consecutive slides on axial view, SSIs on ≥4 slices were significantly associated with the severity of the WMHs, both in deep WMH (DWMH) (odds ratio [OR], 0.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.11–0.97; p = 0.04) and periventricular hyperintensity (PVH) (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.17–0.78; p = 0.01). No such association was found on the basis of the transversal diameter (p > 0.1).Conclusion: Consecutive slides on axial view (≥4 consecutive slices) might be more effective than transversal diameter to identify the atherosclerotic mechanisms of SSIs in the lenticulostriate artery territory.Clinical Trial Registration: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00664846

CLINICAL APPROACH TO SECONDARY PREVENTION IN AORTIC ATHEROMA

Complex aortic plaques place patients at risk for cardioembolic events including stroke and TIA. Management in secondary prevention of these events is controversial. A 66-year-old diabetic patient presented with congestive heart failure. An echocardiogram was concerning for severe mitral

Prevalence of Hypertension in Vietnam: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Studies on the prevalence of hypertension in Vietnam have reported various estimates. There is no up-to-date assessment of the evidence on the magnitude of hypertension in Vietnam. Search engines for scientific and gray literature were used to identify relevant records for eligibility screening and quality assessment. Data from selected articles were extracted using standardized spreadsheets. Statistical analysis included estimating pooled prevalence and odds ratio, heterogeneity evaluation, meta-regression, and subgroup analysis, in addition to sensitivity analysis and publication bias evaluation. The pooled prevalence of measured hypertension in Vietnam was 21.1% (95% confidence interval = 18.5-23.7) based on 10 studies, and 18.4% (95% confidence interval = 15.2-21.8) based on 3 national surveys. Lower pooled prevalence was estimated for hypertension awareness (9.3%) and hypertension treatment (4.7%). The pooled prevalence of measured hypertension is significantly higher among men. The pooled prevalence of measured hypertension and hypertension awareness and treatment were significantly lower in rural settings. There is a need to strengthen efforts for primary and secondary prevention and disease management to reduce morbidity and mortality, especially in rural residence settings.

A guideline for the management of specific situations in polycythaemia vera and secondary erythrocytosis: A British Society for Haematology Guideline.

The previous BSH guideline for the management of erythrocytosis was published in 2005 (McMullin et al, 2005) and amended in 2007 (McMullin et al, 2007). Here, we re‐evaluate the literature formulate guidance on the management of specific situations encountered in polycythaemia vera (PV) and the management of the other types of secondary erythrocytosis. Recommendations for the diagnostic pathway of investigation of an erythrocytosis, risk stratification and management of PV are in the accompanying guideline (McMullin et al, 2018). We review evidence and outline guidance on management of acute thrombotic events and secondary prevention of thrombosis in PV. The unusual thrombotic events, splanchnic vein and cerebral vein thromboses are discussed and haemorrhage. The specific situations of surgery and pregnancy and guidance on management of pruritus are included. The evidence for the management of other causes of erythrocytosis, including idiopathic erythrocytosis, congenital erythrocytosis, hypoxic pulmonary disease and post‐transplant erythrocytosis, is reviewed and recommendations made.

Cilostazol for treatment of cerebral infarction

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Stroke not only causes critical disability and death but is also a cause of anxiety with the possibility of secondary cardiovascular events including secondary ischemic stroke. Indeed, patients with a history of previous stroke have a high rate of stroke recurrence, indicating the clinical importance of secondary stroke prevention.Area of covered: This review provides an overview of the pooled evidence for cilostazol’s use in the management of secondary stroke prevention. Among the various antiplatelet agents that are available, aspirin is the most frequently used agent worldwide for the prevention of secondary stroke. Cilostazol, a selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) 3A inhibitor, is used worldwide for the treatment of patients with intermittent claudication. However, in Asia, cilostazol is recommended and used in practice for secondary stroke prevention.Expert opinion: The authors believe that cilostazol could be used for secondary stroke prevention not only in Asia but worldwide. However, further randomized trials on cilostazol are needed, especially in the US and Europe to better support its case.

Prognostic value of pulse pressure after an acute coronary syndrome

Background and aimsPulse pressure (PP) is a surrogate of aortic stiffness (AS) easily obtainable. The link between AS and cardio-vascular disease is documented, however, data regarding acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients are scarce and contradictory. We aimed to assess the prognostic value of PP measured at admission, with regard to major adverse outcomes (all-cause mortality, recurrence of MI, and stroke), during the first year following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). MethodsThe SPUM–ACS project is a prospective cohort study of patients with ACS conducted in 4 Swiss University hospitals. Patients with no PP at admission or with severe clinical heart failure or cardiogenic shock were excluded. Cox regression analyses were performed to determine associations between PP and outcomes (all-cause mortality, recurrence of myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke). Three multivariate Cox regression models were adjusted for hemodynamic, cardiovascular, and non-cardiovascular confounders, added successively. ResultsOf 5635 eligible patients, 5070 met the inclusion criteria. Mean patient age was 63 years (range: 54–72), 79.6% were male, and mean blood pressure and PP were 93.9 ± 15.6 and 54 ± 17 mmHg, respectively. Multivariate analyses confirmed the prognostic significance of PP for each 10-mmHg increase for the composite endpoint, hazard ratio (HR) 1.126 [1.051–1.206], p = 0.001; all-cause mortality, HR1.129 [1.013–1.260], p = 0.029; and recurrence of MI, HR1.206 [1.102–1.320], p < 0.001; but not for stroke, HR1.014[0.853–1.205]. ConclusionsPP measured at admission is a strong, independent prognostic marker predicting mortality and recurrence of MI after ACS. PP should be considered for the management of secondary prevention.

Developing a Ward Ethos Based on Positive Behavioural Support within a Forensic Mental Health ‘Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit’

Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) is a framework that aims to prevent challenging behaviours occurring and safely manage them when they do. Proactive approaches have been promoted in government policy and guidance. The aim of this study was to co-produce a ward ethos founded upon the PBS model. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with service users (n = 6) and two focus groups run for staff members (n = 14). Thematic analysis was employed in the analysis of interviews and group transcripts. Analysis revealed relevant themes under the categories: Slow triggers, fast triggers, primary prevention, secondary prevention and crisis management. Based on the themes elicited a poster was developed promoting the values and practices of the PICU in line with the PBS model. This can be shared with service users and staff new to the environment.

Antiplatelet Therapy for Secondary Prevention of Vascular Disease Complications.

Platelets are activated upon interaction with injured vascular endothelium to form a primary hemostatic plug. Pathogenic thrombosis driven by platelet aggregation can occur in the setting of vascular disease leading to ischemic events. The use of antiplatelet agents has become a mainstay for prevention of the secondary complications of vascular disease. This review summarizes seminal and recent literature related to this area. Aspirin is a cornerstone of antiplatelet therapy for coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease for prevention of myocardial infarction, stroke, and vascular death. Alternative antiplatelet agents have shown promise for use in patients with peripheral artery disease though further validation is necessary. Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with clopidogrel, prasugrel, or ticagrelor, and aspirin demonstrates benefit in patients with higher thrombotic risk. However, use of DAPT predictably increases bleeding risk, thus limiting mortality benefit. Individualization of DAPT to patient-specific features is an area of active research with the development the DAPT score and pharmacogenomic approaches. Application of pharmacogenetic data could allow for a precision medicine approach to tailoring antiplatelet therapy. Recommendations for management of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral artery disease are largely based on large-scale randomized control trials and meta-analyses. Seminal trials have largely focused on prevention of vascular events including non-fatal MI, stroke, and vascular death in subsets of patients with cardiovascular disease. Data from these trials along with smaller studies have driven recommendations for secondary prevention management in patients with cerebrovascular and peripheral artery disease.

Evaluation of lipid management in secondary prevention of ACS patients with reference to Non-HDL-cholesterol reduction-a UK cardiac centre experience

Aim: Some evidence indicates that lipid therapy to prevent further cardiac event in ACS patients is suboptimal. NICE guideline (CG-181-2014) recommends greater than 40% reduction in Non-HDL-C, 3 months after treatment for ACS. We assessed the lipid management of patients admitted into Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool after ACS.